Rationale


When we were asked to choose a subject for our project, I immediately thought of Zvi Abramowitz. Zvi was a doctor in the Shaare Zedek Hospital and created the vascular surgery unit in the hospital. Zvi was the chief surgeon of the hospital for a few years before retiring.
Zvi made Aliya in 1970 with his wife and children. As an immigrant, he represents even better what the face of Israel is. Zvi represents for me the face of Israel because he is a great example of someone who helps people. Israel is full of simple people that do their best to help. Zvi worked for a very long time saving the lives of other people, in the best way possible. He is always as caring as can be. This is despite the hard time he had adjusting in Israel.
I hope that this project will show what an amazing person Zvi is. He illustrates how you could always help, even outside your job. Most importantly, he believes that you should always to stay human. He always tells people, especially his fellow doctors, that the most important part of his job is first to do things in the most humane way possible. He has done great things in his life but despite this, he always stays modest and humble. These are, to my opinion, the most important values every Israeli should have.

Profile


Zvi Abramowitz always knew he would come to Israel.
He was born on November 29th of 1936, and during his childhood lived in Baltimore. In July of 1970, Zvi finally came to Israel. With his wife, Gilda, and his two young children, he left all his family and friends behind. In his opinion, it was the best thing he has ever done.

In his childhood, Zvi went to Massad- a Hebrew speaking camp, for thirteen years. In this camp, people always talked about Israel and Aliya. This, and the fact that his parents were very Zionistic, made him know that Israel is where he whished to live. As soon as he finished studying, he came to Israel to live and work. The adjusting went relatively easy for them since Zvi already had a job ready for him in the Ichilov hospital, and the other doctors helped him very much. What Zvi likes most about Israel is the fact that it is a Jewish country, in which his children can grow up feeling good with being a Jew.

Zvi worked as a surgeon for many years, in many places. He learned in Johns Hopkins College, went to the Albert Einstein medical school, and then joined the surgical program in Barns hospital in Saint Louise. He had to stop his internship because of the Vitamin war since he was drafted, but finished it after leaving the USA army. Zvi actually started as a chemistry student, but one semester he saw a course about embryos that used an electrons microscope. Zvi wanted the opportunity to use the microscope, and went to the course. It triggered his interest in biology, and he started his career as a doctor, to the happiness of his parents.

project.jpgZvi started as a simple surgeon in Soroka hospital. Slowly he made his way to the top of the surgery department in Shaare Zedek. There, he created the vascular surgery unit and ran it until his retirement. This was the first time such a unit existed with special surgeons for vessel problems. In America, Zvi was drafted to the US army and worked as a doctor. When he came to Israel, he volunteered in the Israeli Defense Forces. He says the differences are great: in the USA his job was to take care of sick soldiers. However, in Israel he looked after injured soldiers from war.

He believes the most important character trait anyone should have, especially a doctor, is to be human. No matter how hard the cases are or how many of them you see a day, you should always remember to stay human. You have to remember your patients have feelings and treat them kindly. What Zvi liked most about his job was taking care of the patient, doing something for others. One doctor once told him "I can make a monkey operate, but I can't make a monkey human".
Zvi chose to be human, and this is the manner in which he lives his whole life. As he himself said, he does not want the mirror to be ashamed when he looks in it.

His role model in life is a Chinese doctor called Dr. Yau. He started his life as a farmer boy in a small village, but managed to get to America and make it as a doctor. He even became the head of the Surgical Union The way he continued working hard for his cause, the way he started so small and became so important seems amazing to Zvi.

Through his job, Zvi gives a lot to Israel. He has saved many lives, and continues to do so even though he is retired. He gives others the opportunity for a better life. He influences the people around him to act with care and be the right kind of person. He believes that Israel is, and will remain, the place for all Jews.


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Background Research


Camp Massad was created in 1953, on the shores of Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba, in Western Canada, as a Hebrew speaking camp. It created a very special program for Jews, all in the Hebrew language. The camp includes many fun activities of all kinds imaginary. Furthermore, Massad has very important goals in this program. Camp Massad was created for very important reasons.


MapOfMassad.pngThe site, Camp Massad, has many activities. There are a lot of simulation games, sports, arts, camping skills, carnival, and many more activities. Also, every morning starts with Tefilah - the Morning Prayer, and Saturdays are refereed to as important parts of the program. The camp has many special days, each dedicated to a different activity or subject: sports day, television day, Olympics and more. Yet, the biggest, greatest activity is the Maccabia. In those couple of days the camp is divided into two groups. Every team needs to put on a drama production and a themed dinner. Other parts of the Maccabia are sports, games, finding tem names and much more.

The Camp's goal is to create a strong Jewish identity through the camping experience. Camp Massad tries to give the campers the feeling of love to Israel and the Jewish cloture as well as developing their life as a Jew. They do so through the program, strong leadership, and use of the Hebrew language as the working language of the camp.


All in all, Camp Massad is a very important part of many people's lives. It has great programs and even greater goals, all in sake of young Jewish children. A lot of time and money was put into this Camp, but it sure paid of through generations of happy children.


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Winnipeg's Jewish Community Online


Camp Masad website

Literary Connection​


For this part I chose the song "All God's People" by Queen. The song talks about how we are all people of God, so we should all give and help others. I think Queen wished to show the people who read this piece how to act kindly. In my opinion, it is connected to Israel because in Israel many people give to others, a lot of times on behalf of God, which is exactly what "All God's People" talks about.

"All God's People" states that people should give to others, and be thankful they are able to do so. People have to do as God commanded and help their fellow humans. Also the rulers of every country must help their people and act kindly. People should love all the people of the world; therefore follow their heart and conscience to do well in the world. He describes how people neglect the poor in their homes and give to others - all in the name of God.

I think Queen's main point in this song is to convince people that they should help the poor. He wishes to make people think about the others around them, the less fortunate. He suggests what values everyone should have. Queen wants all the people in the world to be kind to each other and give as much as possible.

The song is connected to the Israeli life style. This is due to the fact that in Israel, many people dedicate their lives to helping others. That is the beauty of our country – people act kindly to others all the time. Helping your fellow humans was always a big part of the Jewish community. Every city or settlement has its own charity program, sometimes even a few of them. All were founded by Israelis who work hard to help others, many times because of Judaism. The Jewish religion emphasizes the importance of helping and loving all human beings, because they were created by God.


From this we learn that lending a hand to others is a great part of the human life, especially in the Israeli one. Many people dedicate their whole lives to aid those who need it.


All God's People by Queen:

So all you people give freely,

Make welcome inside your homes.
Thank God you people give freely
-
Don't turn your back on the lesson of the Lord.
All prime ministers and majesty around the world,
Open your eyes, look, touch and feel.


Rule with your heart, live with your conscience.

Love and be free.
We're all God's people,
Got to face up,
Better grow up,
Got to stand tall and be strong
.
We're all God's people.


Yes there was this magic light,
I said to myself
,
I'd better go to bed and have an early night,
Then I went into a dream.


Rule with your heart and live with your conscience
,
We're all God's people give freely.
Make welcome inside your homes,
Let us be thankful, he's so incredible,

We're all God's people.


Mp3 Music, 01.02.2010. song source

Creative Connection


For this part, I decided to draw a picture of a little girl holding hands with a soldier. In the background is the flag of Israel.
This picture represents the face of Israel to me because in Israel many people live in danger. They have to suffer missiles, suicidal bombers, and much more. Protecting these people are the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces. Israel is constantly defending its self from enemies, so soldiers are always needed. Despite how young the state of Israel is, it's well known for its share of wars.

However, Israel also has many children. They represent to me the continuation of the Jews in the world. Even though people in the world despise us, we still continue to grow and blossom. Through all the attempts to destroy us, we are still here. The young girl in the picture is there to stay, just like Israel.


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Reflection


When I first started this project, I expected this project to be meaningful. I knew it wouldn’t be like all the other projects in which all you need to do is write something you found in a book. I thought this would be much greater, that this project will make me think as I write it.
True enough, most of this project really got me to think. I had to form my opinion on so many ideas that were never on my mind before. The project helped me to decide what I like about Israel the most. I found out that so many people here in my country help others without thinking about what they are doing. All that drives them is humanity and kindness.
I also started thinking of the meaning of being an Israeli. Now, I am prouder to live here more than ever. I love my country and everything it stands for, the people in it and their actions for our country.
The project also helped me improve my writing skills. It is much easier for me to write an essay now then before the project, due to the hard work I put into writing this project. Furthermore, my research skills have developed as well. I can find information faster and more efficiently than I had been able to.

Biblography


Abramowitz, Zvi, surgeon doctor. Jerusalem, 29.12.09.

Camp Massad Website, 01.01.10, 17.01.10, <http://www.campmassad.ca/>

MP3 Music, 01.02.10, <http://www.mp3music.co.il/lyrics2/text.aspx?id=56617>

Winnipeg's Jewish Community, 2010, 17,01,10, http://www.jewishwinnipeg.org/IR/Listing.aspx?id=7513